Working-class north-east Bucharest built around the Obor market and the legendary mici terrace, the biggest open-air food draw outside Old Town.
Trattoria Sale e Pepe near Foișorul de Foc in Bucharest cooks a no-frills Naples-leaning trattoria menu, wood-fired pizza and made-fresh daily pasta.
Signature: Pizza Napoletana, Tagliata, House tiramisu
Order: Pizza Diavola; the daily fresh pasta.
Tip: Bookings advisable on weekend evenings; mid-week walk-in is fine.
The Obor mici terrace inside the Piața Obor complex is the legendary Bucharest grill counter, mici plus mustard plus bread plus a Timișoreana lager.
Signature: Mici plate, Ciorbă de burtă, Bread and mustard
Order: Five mici, two slices bread, mustard pot, a Romanian lager.
Tip: Cash works fastest; the lunch counter peaks 12:00-14:00 Walk-ins usually OK.
The mici terrace inside Bucharest's Piața Obor on Ziduri Moși is the most-cited mici counter, plates of five with mustard, bread and lager service.
Try: Mici
Tip: Plate of five mici costs around 25 RON; cash works fastest Cash typically expected.
The lángos counters inside Bucharest's Piața Obor fry traditional Hungarian-Romanian dough rounds to order, topped with garlic, brânză and smântână.
Try: Lángos (fried dough with garlic, cheese, sour cream)
Tip: Around 15 RON each; ask for cheese and sour cream toppings Cash typically expected.
The rotisserie counters at Piața Obor in Bucharest spin whole chickens over open flame, a half-chicken with bread and pickles the mainstream lunch.
Try: Rotisserie chicken and bread
Tip: Take the half-bird and bread for 35 RON; eat at the market benches.
Piața Obor on Ziduri Moși is the largest open-air market in Bucharest, with the mici terrace inside the complex serving plates locals rate as the city's best.
Tip: Mici stalls open from 09:00; weekend lunches see queues from 12:00.
Romanian Mici Day on 1 May is the citywide Labour Day mici tradition: every brewery garden, park grill and market terrace fires the small minced-meat.
Tip: Obor terrace, Berăria H and Hanu' Berarilor are the biggest public mici spots; book or queue early.
TravelMaker's four-hour Romanian cooking class with Societe Gourmet starts at Obor Market for shopping, then runs the three-course Romanian meal in a private kitchen.
Tip: Market shopping is part of the experience; arrive at Obor with empty bags.
Five mici with mustard, bread and a Romanian lager at Piața Obor in Bucharest for under 35 RON, the most-cited budget plate in the entire capital.
Try: Mici and bread plate
Tip: Cash speeds up the queue; weekend lunches book the benches by 12:30.
The Obor market rotisserie counters in Bucharest sell half-chickens with bread and pickles for 30-40 RON, the city's cheapest sit-down chicken plate.
Try: Half rotisserie chicken with bread
Tip: Take it to the benches inside the hall; cash only.
The lángos counters at Bucharest's Obor fry dough to order and top with brânză and smântână, around 15-22 RON the city's deepest budget snack option.
Try: Lángos with garlic, cheese and sour cream
Tip: Smaller portions also sold; ask for half-cheese to make it sturdier.